quote:
Originally posted by chuckv97There’s a banjo player playing on a new TV/internet ad for online gambling. That’ll spike sales…. maybe
Found it,, ya, real classy promo for banjos,,, argh, more stereotypical stuff
Well we are talking about banjo aren't we. Never quite popular to begin with.
In answer to your query, I guess I got lucky when I found "the one". I haven't looked at another since.
Chuckv97 said "There’s a banjo player playing on a new TV/internet ad for online gambling. That’ll spike sales…. maybe"
Want to bet?
I have noticed really competitive prices on used banjos lately. A couple I had to physically restrain myself from jumping on.
Not bragging because it’s the novelty factor, but I always outdo the usual singers/guitar strummer buskers at the farmers market. Banjos are intriguing and pleasant-sounding to most folks.
I also notice that many Facebook banjo and bluegrass groups keep attracting more members.
COVID led to many purchases of student instruments. There is a glut of student-grade used instruments in most categories from the lock down.
quote:
Originally posted by chuckv97quote:
Originally posted by chuckv97There’s a banjo player playing on a new TV/internet ad for online gambling. That’ll spike sales…. maybe
Found it,, ya, real classy promo for banjos,,, argh, more stereotypical stuff
https://share.icloud.com/photos/0c8iypjDRxo9gidhi_T3MBS4w
i saw that ad and since we live in the united states of the offended ,, i am offended by that ad..... makes anyone with a banjo inbred and can't find a pair of scissors.... i think i am suing and make a million !!!!!!!!
Scruggs, Crowe, Osborne, Emmerson and more are gone. A lot of banjo music is just da,da,da,da,da in the background. IMO the banjo is being dumbed down in a lot of music and with the Mr Rushmore giants gone, it is hard to perpetuate it. So cheaper and lesser and less instruments.
Don't get me wrong, we have some great great young players out there, but they have not reached the celestial level of the above mentioned which is needed to keep it in the front as much as it should be. And bluegrass has been a while since an O'Brother or Bonnie and Clyde to help is shine.
Ken
It's taken a while for a lot of the country to realize what a mess we're in. Now we reap what has been sown. The average person is hurting economically. Everyday expenses take precedence over banjos.
Edited by - banjoez on 09/04/2026 10:20:54
I have been in touch with a boutique shop that always seems to be "covered up" in work. As far as the economy, I think it is more a matter of where you live as to economic stability.
I wonder if, as I have read, the majority of new pickers are leaning toward playing open back banjos as opposed to traditional Bluegrass resonator type five string instruments.
Can we hear from some of the open back builders as to how their business is doing?
I saved up for a specific banjo I've had my eye on. I reached out to the builder and was told that he isn't taking orders! True I could take my money elsewhere, but I really want THAT one and so I wait...
quote:
Originally posted by Mad HornetI saved up for a specific banjo I've had my eye on. I reached out to the builder and was told that he isn't taking orders! True I could take my money elsewhere, but I really want THAT one and so I wait...
Did they say when to check back with them?
quote:
Originally posted by From Greylock to Bean Blossomquote:
Originally posted by Mad HornetI saved up for a specific banjo I've had my eye on. I reached out to the builder and was told that he isn't taking orders! True I could take my money elsewhere, but I really want THAT one and so I wait...
Did they say when to check back with them?
Nope. Kind of an indefinite hold. Maybe never IDK
Could someone show me where you are all getting the collective sales figures and data for total industry sales on new banjos as well as used?
I’d like to see the sales numbers we are all using here to support this discussion.
according to this they are stable and going up
https://www.htfmarketreport.com/reports/4379425-banjos-market
this is new banjo market ,, not used .
quote:
Originally posted by Mad Hornetquote:
Originally posted by From Greylock to Bean Blossomquote:
Originally posted by Mad HornetI saved up for a specific banjo I've had my eye on. I reached out to the builder and was told that he isn't taking orders! True I could take my money elsewhere, but I really want THAT one and so I wait...
Did they say when to check back with them?
Nope. Kind of an indefinite hold. Maybe never IDK
that is sad. sounds like a banjo builder aging out.
Ken
Ken: "A lot of banjo music is just da,da,da,da,da in the background. IMO the banjo is being dumbed down in a lot of music .... ."
Thanks, that's the most encouraging thing I've heard in a while*. Maybe my "eventually" will actually come to pass. 
* Well, tbt, I got a couple of compliments this past weekend ... IIRC more for my singing (?) than my banjo prowess, but what the hey?!?!??
Many banjo's... not so many buyers. I have been surprised by the number of Stellings for sale recently.....
That's a good thing because I am looking for one....
Happy day
Dave
Everything is too expensive.
Cost of living takes precedence.
^^ yep, just like our man Merle says in Rainbow Stew:
"And the price of life is too high to give up
It's got to come down again ... ."
Edit: It's in my "book of songs," but so far not for public consumption.
Edited by - Owen on 09/07/2026 14:23:38
quote:
Originally posted by 1935tb-11according to this they are stable and going up
https://www.htfmarketreport.com/reports/4379425-banjos-market
this is new banjo market ,, not used .
Authors think Gibson, Stelling and Recording King are global leaders in the 2026 banjo market.
And want single users to pay $3600 for their report.
AI Overview A standard beginner banjo costs about $300 to $500 today, which is roughly 20% to 25% higher than the $250 to $400 range typical 10 years ago in 2016.Banjo Prices: Now vs. 10 Years Ago (2016)Beginner Models (e.g., Gold Tone AC-1, Rogue B30): Cost $200–$315 today, compared to $150–$250 a decade ago.Popular Entry-Level / Intermediate (e.g., Deering Goodtime): Costs about $599 today, up from roughly $450–$499 in 2016.Professional Bluegrass / Open-Backs (e.g., Recording King, high-end Deering): Range from $1,000 to $3,000+, showing a similar moderate inflation bump of roughly 20–30% over 2016 baseline prices of $800–$2,500. [1] (https://blog.mcneelamusic.com/how-much-banjo-cost-price-guide/), [2] (https://www.google.com/search?q=product&prds=pvt:hg,productid:5340890132537578143,catalogid:212643571046097516,gpcid:2998731656221873451,mid:576462680710793974&ibp=oshop), [3] (https://www.google.com/search?q=product&prds=pvt:hg,productid:10809866215597935451,catalogid:7425607376217177638,gpcid:1889667800003277452,mid:576462810400126580&ibp=oshop), [4] (https://www.google.com/search?q=product&prds=pvt:hg,productid:3667004172736690231,catalogid:9737598118922871152,gpcid:7021632842562895863,mid:576462762290500167&ibp=oshop), [5] (https://www.reddit.com/r/banjo/comments/1q55aw5/what_kind_of_money_are_yall_spending_for_your/)US Salaries: Now vs. 10 Years Ago (2016)Average National Wage Index / Mean Salary: Approximately $69,846 today, compared to $48,642 in 2016 according to the Social Security Administration National Average Wage Index. [1] (https://www.ssa.gov/oact/cola/AWI.html), [2] (https://www.sofi.com/learn/content/average-salary-in-us/)Affordability Comparison: Average US nominal wages have increased by roughly 43% over the past 10 years, outpacing the roughly 20–25% price increase of entry-level and intermediate banjos. This means a standard banjo is technically more affordable relative to average yearly earnings today than it was in 2016.If you have a specific banjo brand or model in mind from 10 years ago versus today, I can pull the exact historical and current retail prices to compare them further.
quote:
Originally posted by From Greylock to Bean Blossomquote:
Originally posted by Mad Hornetquote:
Originally posted by From Greylock to Bean Blossomquote:
Originally posted by Mad HornetI saved up for a specific banjo I've had my eye on. I reached out to the builder and was told that he isn't taking orders! True I could take my money elsewhere, but I really want THAT one and so I wait...
Did they say when to check back with them?
Nope. Kind of an indefinite hold. Maybe never IDK
that is sad. sounds like a banjo builder aging out.
Ken
It is sad but opposite on the aging. He's a young talented guy but he had to get a regular job and put banjo building on hold. So I guess more evidence of declining banjo sales.
quote:
Originally posted by 1935tb-11according to this they are stable and going up
https://www.htfmarketreport.com/reports/4379425-banjos-market
this is new banjo market ,, not used .
This is one of many inaccurate India based junk report services.
quote:
Originally posted by Joel Hooksquote:
Originally posted by 1935tb-11according to this they are stable and going up
https://www.htfmarketreport.com/reports/4379425-banjos-market
this is new banjo market ,, not used .
This is one of many inaccurate India based junk report services.
thats because us companies get bought out too easy
Edited by - 1935tb-11 on 09/08/2026 04:56:32
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Privacy Consent (EU/GDPR Only)
Copyright 2026 Banjo Hangout. All Rights Reserved.
